Means for loading and capping cartridges



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. W. CARVER. MEANS FOR LOADING AND GAPPING CARTRIDGES. No. 424,641.

Patented Apr. 1, 1890;

(No Model.) 2 sheetssheet 2.

J.'W. CARVER. MEANS FOR LOADING AND 'GAPPING CARTRIDGES. No. 424,641. Patented Apr. 1, 1890.

. J/ZCU.

fi A? N. PETERS Phowumo pher. washln ion. D C

UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE.

JAMES IVOOD CARVER, OF IAIVLET, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, AND GIBBONS L. KELTY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MEANS FOR LOADING AND CAPPING CARTRIDGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,641, dated April 1, 1890.

Application filed November 11, 1889. Serial No. 329,838. (No model.)

.has been inserted into the end of the case, and

to remove the spent cap after the shell has been fired and to recap such shell. Devices for accomplishing these objects have before been made use of, and my present invention relates to the construction of the mechanism, as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sec-,

tion. Fig. 2 is a plan view with the powdersupply tube in section at the line a: at, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the rammer. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the capper; and Fig. 5 is a section'of the ball-inserter at the line y y,

1 Fig. 2.

I make use of a bed A, having a suitable base by which it is attached to a table or other support B, and this table is preferably circular, and in the center there is an upright projeetion O, containing sockets for the lower ends of the vertical studs D E, that can be partially revolved within such sockets. The stud E is extended out as an arm E, and it carries at the end a powder-holding hopper F, having a slide or cut-01f 2 and a tube 3, lead ing from the hopper to one of the cartridgeshells G as the same rest upon the bed A. I prefer to support the cartridge-shells G upon the bed A by the spring-clips 4, and these are placed upon the bed in such positions that the cartridge-shells supported by them will be equidistant from the axis of the vertical stud E; hence as the arm E is swung and the vertical stud returned the tube 3 can be brought in succession to each cartridge-shell and the cut-off 2 moved to allow the proper quantity of powder to run down through the tube into the shell, and then the supply of powder is cut OE and the parts move to supply powder to the next cartridge-shell, and so on; and, if desired, a scraper 5 may be pivoted upon a stud 6 at the lower end of the tube, so as to swing up or down, and the lower edge of the scraper is broughtin line with the top of the cartridge-shell to remove the surplus powder from such shell.

Upon the stud D is an arm D ,at the outer end of which is an eye,through which slides the vertical plunger H, around which is a spring 7 for raising such plunger, and at the lower end of the plunger a hole passes vertically and axially into such plunger for the reception of the shanks 8 of the removable tools that are provided for such plunger. One of these removable tools is a rammer I, which is made use of for consolidating the powder within the cartridge-case and for inserting a wad. Another removable tool is the decapper K, having a pin 10 at the lower end adapted to drive out the spent cap 11 or primer of the cartridge-shell G, and whenthis decapper is made use of the cartridge-shell is over the opening 12 in the bed A, as seen in Fig. 1, so that the spent cap may fall through such opening. Another tool adapted to the plunger A is the capper L, having a plug 14 at the end, that is adapted to press home the cap or primer into the cavity of the cartridge-shell when such cartridge-shell is inverted, and the body thereof passes through the opening 12 in the bed A, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. It is to be understood that the decapper is used upon the spent shell and then a new cap or primer is applied to the same before the powder is inserted into the cartridgeshell, after which the powder is rammed by the rammer I and a wad inserted ready for the reception of the ball M.

I provide a case S, passing through the bed A, Fig. 5, and the lower end of this is of a 0 shape adapted to receive the ball M when inserted point downward, and the case S is large enough for the loaded shell to be passed into it and pressed down around the ball, the ball and shell being held in their proper relative '9 5 positions by the case during this operation, and the shell can be forced down by hand or by one of the rammers.

Upon the upper end of the stud D there is a cup N, adapted to receive the cartridge- I00 shell as filled and containing the ball, and into the upper end of the cup N a crimping-nut O is screwed, the opening through the centerof which is tapering, so that as this nut is screwed down the tapering opening in the eral holes 12 through the bed A, so that asegmental range of cartridge-shells can be put in position for being acted upon in succession to decap and recap the shell and ram the powder, and I also provide an opening at 16, having a sharp edge, and the size of this opening corresponds with the size of the bullet adapted to the particular cartridge, so that if the bullet is too large it may be reduced to the proper size by driving it through such opening 16 by the rammer I. The screw lSis used to hold the shankS of either the removable tools when inserted into the lower end of the vertical plunger H.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with the bed A, having a central projection O, with holes in it forming sockets, of the Vertical studs D E, loosely seated in the sockets, the arms E D, extending out from the respective studs, the hopper F, the cut-off and powder-tube connected with the hopper, and the Vertical plunger-H, adapted to receive the ramming, capping, and de- .set forth.

3. The bed A, having the central projection O, with a hole in itforming a socket, in con1- bination with the vertical stud D, loosely seated in the socket, arm D, extending out from the stud, and the plunger I-I, passing through the end of such arm and provided with a spring 7, a head, and the removable rammer, capper, and decapper, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 28th day of October, 1889.

JAMES WOOD CARVER. \Vitnesses:

F. W. CARVER, J ULIANA SOULLARD. 

